(NSI News Source Info) KOTTAKAL, Kerala, India - October 29, 2010: If you had not heard of Narayanan Krishnan, as I had not, it is a collective failure. This is one of the most incredible stories of personal commitment.

Narayanan Krishnan, all of 29 years old now, does what he was professionally trained to do as a chef. Feed people. Only Krishnan does not do this in the swanky confines of a 5-star hotel. Every day, he wakes up at 4 am, cooks a simple hot meal and then, along with his team, loads it in a van and travels about 200 km feeding the homeless in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

Krishnan feeds, often with his hands, almost 400 destitute people every day. And for those who need it, he provides a free haircut too.

According to CNN, eight years ago, this award-winning chef with a five-star hotel chain was all set to go to Switzerland for a high-profile posting. On a visit to a Madurai temple, he came across a homeless, old man eating his own human waste. That stark sight changed Krishnan's life.

Much to the dismay of his parents, CNN says, Krishnan abandoned his career plans and decided to spend his life and his professional training in looking after those who could not care for themselves. He has provided more than 1.2 million hot meals through his nonprofit organisation Akshaya Trust, and now hopes to extend this to shelter for the homeless too.

Krishnan is the only Indian in a list of 10 heroes that CNN has picked worldwide to honour. One of them will be chosen CNN Hero of the Year, selected by the public through an online poll. If many Indians get together to vote for this inspiring man, he can win by a long mile.

If Krishnan wins he will get $100,000 in addition to the $25,000 that he gets for being shortlisted for the Top 10. Akshaya Trust needs all the monetary support it can get to build on Krishnan's dream. Let's help him get there.

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - October 29, 2010: News Releases are official statements of the Department of Defense. News releases issued within the past 30 days are listed below. Older news releases are available from the news release archive page.

U.S. Department of DefenseOffice of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)News Release

Department of Defense announces the recipients of this year’s DoD Chief Information Officer Awards at a Pentagon ceremony yesterday.

This year marked the 10th anniversary of the DoD CIO Award and is the highest honor recognized by the department for achievement in information management and information technology. More than 70 nominations were submitted worldwide including both civilian government employees and military.

The applicants were evaluated based on their outstanding achievement in one or more of the following eight critical areas: acquisition; architecture and interoperability infrastructure; identity and information assurance and cyber operations; management and standards; synchronized and responsive operations and services; capital planning and optimized information technology investments; information management/technology/assurance workforce; and information sharing and data management.

The award winners were chosen because of their exemplary performance in improving information delivery and dissemination, management capability, cost reduction and savings, a broad user base, process, mission impact, and net-centricity.

(NSI News Source Info) YORK, Pennsylvania - October 29, 2010: BAE Systems has delivered seven Paladin Integrated Management (PIM) prototype vehicles to the U.S. Army on schedule. PIM is the latest howitzer in the M109 Paladin family of vehicles.

BAE Systems was awarded a $63.9 million research and development contract in August 2009 to produce five Self Propelled Howitzers and two Carrier, Ammunition, Tracked vehicles. The first prototype vehicle was unveiled earlier this year in January.

“This landmark is really a testament of the great team we have assembled to work on this combat proven system,” said Joe McCarthy, vice president and general manager of the Heavy Brigade Combat Team (HBCT) systems for BAE Systems. “With every job we strive to meet and exceed our customers’ requirements and expectations and thanks to the hard work and commitment of our employees we were able to meet that goal and even exceed it by producing some of the vehicles ahead of schedule.”

The initial PIM vehicles are conducting contractor testing in Yuma, Arizona and Aberdeen, Maryland before they are delivered to the customer beginning in January 2011.

The PIM uses the existing main armament and cab structure of a Paladin M109A6 and replaces the out-of-date chassis components with up-to-date components from Bradley Combat Systems. PIM incorporates a state-of the-art "digital backbone" and power generation capability and integrates electric elevation and traverse drives, electric rammer and digital fire control system. The upgrade of the PIM ensures commonality with existing systems in the Heavy Brigade Combat Team (HBCT), and reduces its logistical footprint and operational sustainability costs by replacing obsolete components within the mobility chassis.

The Paladin Integrated Management vehicle is the first production vehicle equipped with the company's enhanced on-board power management capability, representing the first implementation of the U.S. Army's On Board Power Management requirement. BAE Systems’ enhanced on-board power management solution will double the electrical power of most military vehicles, exponentially increasing the mission effectiveness of ground forces in theatre.

About BAE Systems

BAE Systems is a global defense, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. In 2009 BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion (US$ 36.2 billion).

(NSI News Source Info) NEWTOWN, Pa., - October 29, 2010: The BSAT-3b broadcasting satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] for the Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) of Japan, is ready for liftoff on Oct. 28 aboard an Ariane 5-ECA launch vehicle provided by Arianespace. The launch window opens at 5:51 p.m. ET and closes at 7:01 p.m. ET.

BSAT-3b features 12 130 W Ku-band channels, eight operating simultaneously, and will be located at 110 degrees East longitude. With a design life of 15 years, BSAT-3b is based on the A2100A platform manufactured by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS), Newtown, Pa. BSAT-3b marks the 12th Lockheed Martin A2100 satellite launched in the 1- to 4-kW class satellite range. The satellite is comprised entirely of equipment based on proven A2100 designs and flight heritage, enhancing reliability on orbit. Lockheed Martin successfully built and launched BSAT-3a for B-SAT in August 2007 and is currently constructing BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R, which is scheduled for launch in the second quarter of 2011.

BSAT-3b will be the 37th commercial communications satellite based on the A2100 platform delivered to customers world-wide. All 36 A2100 spacecraft successfully launched are operational and continue to perform their missions.

The Lockheed Martin A2100 geosynchronous spacecraft series is designed to meet a wide variety of telecommunications needs including Ka-band broadband and broadcast services, fixed satellite services in C-band and Ku-band, high-power direct broadcast services using the Ku-band frequency spectrum and mobile satellite services using UHF, L-band, and S-band payloads. The A2100's modular design features simplified construction, increased on-orbit reliability and reduced weight and cost. The A2100 design accommodates a large range of communication payloads and serves as the platform for critical government communications programs, including the Advanced Extremely High Frequency and Mobile User Objective System satellites.

The A2100 spacecraft can also be configured for missions other than communication. It has been adapted for Lockheed Martin’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite Series-R earth observing mission and serves as the spacecraft platform for Lockheed Martin’s GPS III program.

About B-SATB-SAT is a unique operator of broadcasting satellites in 12GHz BSS band in Japan. The company was established in April 1993 and is located in Tokyo, Japan. Since then, B-SAT has worked toward providing stable satellite operations and continuity of broadcast services. B-SAT currently owns and manages four satellites: BSAT-3a for both analogue and digital services, BSAT-2a for analog services, BSAT-2c for digital services, and BSAT-1b for a backup satellite.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 133,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s 2009 sales from continuing operations were $44 billion.

A new advanced radar for the Army, EQ-36 systems have the ability to detect, classify, track and locate enemy indirect fire such as mortars, artillery and rockets in either 360- or 90-degree modes. The new systems will supplement and eventually replace legacy AN/TPQ-36 and AN/TPQ-37 medium-range radars now in the Army’s inventory.

“From the start, the EQ-36 program has been about the soldier and the Army’s urgent need to protect them from daily indirect fire threats,” said Carl Bannar, vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Radar Systems. “With more than 40-years of radar experience, we developed the EQ-36 radar in fewer than 30 months -- less than half the time it traditionally takes to develop a new radar system.”

In July 2009, Lockheed Martin delivered the first two EQ-36 systems to the Army, ahead of schedule, following successful live-fire field testing at Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona.

Lockheed Martin was awarded the original contract in January 2007 by the Army's Program Executive Office, Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors. Lockheed Martin is teamed with SRC, of Syracuse, N.Y., on the EQ-36 program.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 133,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s 2009 sales from continuing operations were $44.0 billion.

Sopakco, Inc., Mullins, S.C., is being awarded a maximum $74,725,000 fixed-price with economic price adjustment, indefinite-delivery type contract for meals, ready to eat. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. There were originally three proposals solicited with three responses. The date of performance completion is Dec. 31, 2010. The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM3S1-06-D-Z104).

Ameriqual Group, LLC, dba Ameriqual Packaging, Evansville, Ind., is being awarded a maximum $72,900,000 fixed-price with economic price adjustment, indefinite-delivery type contract for meals, ready to eat. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. There were originally three proposals solicited with three responses. The date of performance completion is Dec. 31, 2010. The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM3S1-06-D-Z103).

The Wornick Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, is being awarded a maximum $40,905,645 fixed-price with economic price adjustment, indefinite-delivery type contract for meals, ready to eat. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. There were originally three proposals solicited with three responses. The date of performance completion is Dec. 31, 2010. The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM3S1-06-D-Z105).

NAVY

Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Inc., Pascagoula, Miss., is being awarded a $48,107,835 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-10-C-2229) for additional planning and advanced engineering services in support of the LHA replacement (LHA[R]) Flight 0 amphibious assault ship (LHA 7). Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Miss., and is expected to be completed by May 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

L-3 Communications Flight International, Newport News, Va., is being awarded a $24,643,046 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-09-D-0018) for services in support of the commercial air services (CAS) program, which provides contractor owned and operated aircraft to Navy fleet customers and other Department of Defense agencies for tanking of Navy and other government agencies, in support of Foreign Military Sales cases, government contractors, and other CAS aircraft capable of a wide variety of airborne threat simulation capabilities to train shipboard and aircraft squadron weapon systems operators and aircrew how to counter potential enemy electronic warfare and electronic attack operations in today’s electronic combat environment. Work will be performed in various locations throughout the United States (East Coast, 45 percent; West Coast, 35 percent), and outside the continental United States (20 percent). Work is expected to be completed in October 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Electronics Systems, McKinney, Texas, is being awarded a $6,838,774 cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N68335-07-G-0001) for the repair and upgrade of the AN/AAS-52 turreted system for image intensified sensors and eye safe laser range finders for the special projects aircraft. Order provides for new system development, product improvement, sustainment, and repair services for the electro-optical systems. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, and is expected to be completed in October 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity.

KUNDUZ, Afghanistan (AFP) - Sixty-five people, most of them women and children, died when a floor collapsed at a wedding in one of the most remote regions of northern Afghanistan, an official said Thursday. More »

PARIS (AFP) - France's famed luxury retailers, from Chanel to Baccarat to Cartier, are to put their best foot forward Friday in the Gulf emirate Dubai, seen as a gateway to the riches of the Middle East. More »

BEIRUT (AFP) - A military court on Wednesday sentenced to 15 years in prison 31 Lebanese citizens and a Palestinian for collaborating with Israel and acquiring Israeli citizenship, a judicial source said. More »

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) - Largely marginalised from public life, Saudi women will attempt to form the world's largest-ever human pink ribbon on Thursday to draw attention to breast cancer in the ultra-conservative kingdom. More »

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AFP) - A group of women charged at investigators from a UN probe into the murder of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri at a Beirut gynaecology clinic Wednesday, snatching a briefcase but causing no injuries, a doctor said. More »

MOSCOW (AFP) - Arch-rivals Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed at a summit in Russia Wednesday to swap prisoners of war and exchange the bodies of soldiers killed in their conflict over the breakaway Nagorny Karabakh region. More »

JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israel will begin building a huge barrier along its southern border with Egypt "within weeks" in a bid to curb the entry of illegal immigrants, the prime minister's office said on Wednesday. More »